Arlington Million Victory Sends Beach Patrol to Breeders’ Cup

The Arlington Million wasn’t just the biggest race in the country Saturday, it provided one of the biggest exacta, trifecta and superfecta payouts of the day. Beach Patrol snapped a six-race skid to win not only $564,000, but a fees-paid entry to the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf Nov. 4 at Del Mar.

Gun Runner Runs Away in Whitney to Continue Dominant Campaign

The Road to the Breeders’ Cupcontinued Saturday at Saratoga with the $1.2 Million Whitney Stakes. And the winner, Gun Runner, had already earned an automatic berth to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic by virtue of his victory in the Stephen Foster Handicap. Findingbest bets and ways to make more money watering on the race was going to be difficult with Gun Runner the class of the field. And the Candy Ride colt lived up to his billing, cashing a $650,000 payday himself to increase his earnings to more than $5.2 million.

The road to the Breeders’ CupWorld Championships continued on opening weekend in July at Gulfstream and two more horses punched their ticket with ‘Win and You’re In’ Breeders’ Cup victories Saturday. Curlin’s Approval stormed home to take the $250,000 Prince Rooney Handicap (G2) by nearly 5-lengths while Imperial Hint made it 3-for-3 this year with similar nearly a 5-length win as the heavy favorite in the $250,000 Smile Sprint Stakes (G3).

Exaggerator Will Enter Stud at WinStar Farm

Multiple Grade I winner Exaggerator, the 2016 Preakness Stakes winner who became a fan favorite in his duels with Nyquist, has been retired. The super son of 2-time Horse of the Year Curlin, Exaggerator was the only 3-year old to run in all three Triple Crown races this summer. He’ll retire to WinStar Farms in Kentucky and begin his next career as stallion in 2017.

Keeneland opened its Fall Meet Friday with a pair of ‘Win and You’re In’ Breeders’ Cup stakes races, as the Phoenix Stakes and Alcibiades Stakes kicked off the 17-day Fall Meet that runs through October 29. On Saturday, five graded stakes highlight a big day of racing at Keeneland starting with Race 5, the Woodford Stakes.

Usually, there’s not much reason to get all that excited about the Ack Ack Handicap. The race features a $100,000 purse and is listed as a grade-III challenge. This year, however, it marks the return of Runhappy to the track after a nine month absence that has seemed like an eternity for horse racing fans.

Flintshire is All Class in Sweeping Through Sword Dancer

Top turf horse Flintshire won the $1 million Sword Dancer Invitational (G1) for the second straight year Saturday at Saratoga. The win earned Flintshire a fees-paid berth to the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turfat Santa Anita on November 5.

Forego Handicap at Saratoga is Tough Challenge for Favorite A.P. Indian

A super Saturday at Saratoga for one of the biggest race days of the year features six graded stakes races. While astute handicapper know there will be plenty of surprises and value to be found, many others will betting the favorites. In the Forego Handicap in Race 9, we don’t see the favorite finishing in first against 11 challengers. A.P. Indian (5/2) has clearly been impressive while winning all four races in 2016. He’s now won nine of 16 career races including a victory by a nose over Marking (3-1) in their stretch duel of the Belmont Sprint July 9.

Masochistic Headlines Del Mar Feature Saturday

Masochistic is the overwhelming 4-5 favorite in a field of five for Saturday’s $200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar. The 7-furlong sprint is a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on November 4 at Santa Anita.

One of the ways to get in to the Breeders’ Cup is to win a challenge series race, which has a tagline of “win and you’re in”. The other path is to simply nominate a horse. The deadline to do so is set for July 15th. After that date, the cost of entering a horse will inflate exponentially. Owners and trainers can submit their Breeders’ Cup nominations for any of the 13 races under the following breakdowns: